2024's top upcoming vehicles

If so, the Brennero will get a 54kWh battery to power a front-mounted 154bhp electric motor. Range should be in the 250-mile ballpark, though Alfa will probably try to work its magic with the chassis to deliver more driver fun and engagement. While this Alfa will be able to make near-silent progress, distinctive design cues heavily influenced by the larger Tonale mean it should still turn heads.

Audi is charging ahead with its EV future that started with the Q8 e-tron, e-tron GT and Q4 e-tron. It's range of all-electric models will expand even more in 2024, with the arrival of its next SUV, the Q6 e-tron, followed by the sleek A6 e-tron that'll be offered as either a coupe-inspired Sportback saloon or good old fashioned Avant family estate car. The A6 e-tron twins will use the same Premium Platform Electric (PPE) underpinnings as the forthcoming Q6 e-tron, which has been co-developed with Porsche and will share a considerable amount with the new Porsche Macan EV. It may also feature the Q6 e-tron's dual-motor drivetrain for all-wheel drive and draw power from a 100kWh battery pack, which could allow for a range of around 400 miles in the sleeker saloon and wagon.

While details about Audi's A6 e-tron and A6 Avant e-tron remain firmly under wraps for now, the company hasn't held back with details of its next electric SUV: the Q6 e-tron. It's the first Audi to use the PPE architecture that features an 800V charging system and allows for a 10-80% charge in around 30 minutes. The Q6 e-tron also boasts a 370-mile claimed range thanks to its 100kWh battery and dual-motor setup that produces 396bhp in the regular version and 510bhp in the high-performance SQ6 model.

The original BMW X2 was a slightly sportier-looking counterpart to the contemporary X1 small SUV on which it was based. However, the new second-generation X2 has received the full coupe-SUV treatment, sporting a heavily sloping roofline and aggressive looks like those on BMW's larger X4 and X6 coupe-SUVs. The X2 has also grown in size, offers more interior space, and comes with the latest version of BMW's iDrive infotainment system. It's available with either a 168bhp mild-hybrid three-cylinder petrol engine as the sDrive20i, or a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine generating 296bhp and 400Nm of torque in the M35i xDrive model. BMW has also launched an all-electric version called the iX2 that offers all-wheel drive thanks to an electric motor on each axle that together produce 309bhp and 494Nm of torque. Prices for the new BMW X2 start from £39,365.

The all-new Citroen e-C3 is being positioned as the all-electric supermini for the masses, as it'll start from "under £23,000" when it goes on sale in the UK early next year. The e-C3 is built on a flexible ‘smart car' platform, while its 44kWh LFP (lithium ferro phosphate) battery is fitted underneath the rear seats. This size battery is good for a very reasonable 199-mile range, but Citroen will offer an even cheaper battery option down the road, with around 124 miles of range.

The French will also offer petrol-powered versions of the new C3, for those not ready to make the switch to electric, while the C3 Aircross will become a seven-seater with a strong focus on value-for-money, putting it squarely in the crosshairs of the Dacia Jogger. Thanks to a boxy shape and other styling elements such as a relatively high ride height, black wheelarch cladding and a chunky upright stance, the new e-C3 has a much more crossover-esque look than the out-going supermini. The fresh exterior styling is complemented by the new interior design, which ditches conventional analogue dials or instrument panels in favour of a small head-up display that sits within the cavity high up on the dashboard. The advantage is that its large numbers should be more easily visible in your peripheral vision when looking down the road ahead. The e-C3 also features a 10-inch central touchscreen, separate climate controls and Citroen's trademark pillow-soft Active Comfort seats. Comfort was clearly a key focus in the e-C3's development, with Citroen fitting its hydraulic bump-stops across the range – a first in the supermini class.

It took four years for Cupra to take its bold Tavascan concept car from the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, and turn it into an equally striking electric coupe-SUV to go head-to-head with the Kia EV6 and Nissan Ariya. The Cupra Tavascan will go on sale in 2024, and is based on the same MEB platform as the Cupra Born hatchback, as well as the Volkswagen ID.4 and Skoda Enyaq.

The brand's sporty ethos has been utilised to help the Tavascan physically stand out from its rivals and closely related sister cars. The polished black A-pillars have been designed to emulate the look of a racing helmet's visor, while the heavily sculpted bodywork and athletic silhouette are similar to the original concept. Though one key difference with the production Tavascan is that it features Cupra's signature copper-coloured accents and badging, as well as a unique black front fascia and three-triangle light signature at the front and rear. Inside, the Tavascan features a driver-focused design defined by its central spine that separates the driver and front passenger, and serves as a structural piece of the interior. Bucket seats are fitted as standard, while the centrepiece of the cabin is a whopping 15-inch touchscreen. There will be two versions of the Tavascan offered from launch: a 282bhp rear-drive model, and a dual-motor version called the VZ packing 335bhp and 679Nm of torque.

The Dacia Duster has proved to be incredibly popular with both buyers and the Auto Express team, so you can understand why we're excited for the arrival of the all-new third-generation model. The new Duster is expected to be roughly the same size as the current model, leaving space above for the incoming seven-seat Bigster family SUV. It'll sit on the same compact CMF-B platform used by numerous existing Dacia, Renault and Nissan models, including the Clio supermini.

The underpinnings can support a range of three and four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, as well as the unique E-Tech hybrid system available in the Clio. It's possible the new Duster may be offered with the same electrified powertrain, which uses an electric motor to drive the front wheels the majority of the time around town, or until you exceed 37mph, with the petrol engine taking over if power is required or the battery runs low on juice.

The Citroen e-C3 isn't the only bargain EV headed for our shores in 2024, because after years of deliberating, the Dacia Spring is finally coming to Britain. The Spring is a 3.7-metre-long electric city car that weighs less than one tonne, which helps it to cover around 140 miles between charges of its relatively small 26.8kWh battery, or 190 miles if you're just pottering around town. The entry-level Spring 45 pairs that dinky battery with a 44bhp electric motor that will get the car from 0-62mph in a glacially slow 19.1 seconds. The Spring 65 pumps out a slightly healthier 64bhp, so its acceleration figure is a more respectable 13.7 seconds. Both versions of the Spring are expected to come to the UK, but the car we'll get will sport revised exterior looks and much-improved perceived quality inside compared with the French-spec model we got to drive earlier this year.

Ford was working on a vehicle using the Volkswagen Group's MEB all-electric platform for several years, but the all-new Ford Explorer was finally unveiled earlier this year. It was originally due on sale in autumn 2023, but sales and deliveries have been delayed until summer 2024 due to an incoming UN regulation regarding standardisation of battery safety regulations.

The Explorer is key to the company's ambitious electrification plans in Europe, and is a mid-size SUV that offers battery sizes ranging from 55kWh to 82kWh. The entry-level Explorer is a 168bhp rear-wheel drive model with up to 218 miles of claimed range, while the mid-range 282bhp single-motor variant gets the larger power pack allowing it to cover 335 miles on a charge. Finally, there's the dual-motor variant with 335bhp on tap – 40bhp more than the hot VW ID.4 GTX. Standard kit will include a heated steering wheel and massaging seats, climate control, keyless entry, and a 15-inch screen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Behind the Explorer's tailgate there's a 450-litre boot – bigger than the Mustang Mach-E's, but around 100 litres down on the ID.4's, probably due to the shorter rear overhangs on the Explorer.

Few last hurrahs will be able to match the one planned for the Ford Mustang, which is now due to land in UK dealerships sometime in 2024. Likely to be the last combustion-engined version of the famous muscle car, it sticks with V8 power, thanks to a heavily revised 5.0-litre unit producing in excess of 450bhp even in base spec.

In a short space of time, Hyundai's N performance division has already built quite a reputation for itself with its i20 and i30-based models. But 2024 will be the year when we find out how well the hot-hatch boffins can adapt an EV, in the form of the Ioniq 5 N. The faster, more hardcore version of Auto Express's 2021 New Car Awards winner produces 641bhp and 740Nm of torque from its dual-motor setup and will sprint from 0-62mph in just 3.4 seconds with N Launch Control and boost mode engaged.

Hyundai made waves with the Ioniq 5, but it's already showing that it's not tied to the boxy hatchback's formula. The swoopy Ioniq 6 saloon went on sale at the end of 2022, and we were so impressed with the new Kona Electric we named it our Car of the Year for 2023. The next addition to the Korean brand's EV range will be the imposing Ioniq 7 SUV.

Kia hit the ground running with its first bespoke electric car, the EV6, and the brand is aiming to build upon this success with a range of new models wearing the EV moniker. The seven-seat EV9 launched this year, and following hot on its heels in 2024 will be a fully-electric crossover called the EV3. It'll be based on a chunky almost production-ready concept car the Korean brand revealed in October, and will more than likely use the Hyundai-Kia Group's E-GMP architecture.

The Tesla Model S, Porsche Taycan and Mercedes EQS should all be very afraid of the new Lotus Emeya hyper-GT – the first four-door saloon from Hethal since the infamous Carlton. It's also the third EV from the Chinese-owned brand, and is based on the same platform as the remarkable Lotus Eletre SUV. Like the Eletre, the Emeya features numerous passive and active aerodynamic aides to help with efficiency or generate up to 215kg of downforce depending on what the situation calls for.

Mercedes' performance arm, AMG, has already delivered the all-new SL roadster on a fresh platform, but next year we'll get to find out how the architecture works beneath a more focused sports car: the second generation of the Mercedes-AMG GT. Merc's Porsche 911 fighter is now a 2+2 with small rear seats, just like all but the most hardcore 911s, while the overall look is an evolution of the original GT, albeit with a longer-looking wheelbase and a new front end more in-line with the brand's latest models. The AMG GT is being launched with a choice of twin-turbocharged V8 petrol powerplants, each paired with a nine-speed dual-clutch gearbox and four-wheel drive. The first version to arrive will be the AMG GT 63 4MATIC+, pumping out 577bhp and 800Nm of torque; enough for 0-62mph in 3.2 seconds and 195mph top speed. It'll be followed by a less potent AMG GT 53 4MATIC+ with 469bhp and 700Nm, capable of the same benchmark sprint in 3.9 seconds. A plug-in hybrid version may also be in the cards after we saw the plug-in AMG GT Concept E Performance.

The Range Rover is the original luxury SUV, and more than a half a century on, it's still the king of the jungle. The latest fifth-generation model arrived in 2022 and won our Luxury Car of the Year award that same year. It's an imposing presence on the road, while the interior is beautifully finished, dripping with lavish materials and overflowing with technology. It's also one of the most relaxing cars to drive, but as the likes of the Rolls-Royce Spectre and BMW i7 have proved, electric propulsion is the next step in achieving the ultimate luxury car experience.

One of Renault's most famous names will be reborn for a new retro-themed EV in 2024. The new Renault 5 will sit on the Renault-Nissan CMF-BEV small electric-car platform, which will be key to producing small, affordable EVs from both firms. Indeed, Renault chiefs say the R5 could cost around a third less than the current Zoe, and have a price tag that's roughly comparable with a combustion-powered Renault Clio or Volkswagen Polo. A 134bhp motor that will be common across all of the firm's small EVs will help, but while the R5 won't feature the same 130kW charging capability as the electric Megane E-Tech, it will be close, and the 52kWh battery (the larger of two options) is set to provide a 249-mile range.

Renault has reinvented the Scenic as an all-electric SUV to sit above the Megane E-Tech hatchback. The new Scenic is based on the brand's CMF-EV platform, maximising space for passengers and luggage, and is available with two sizes of battery: 60kWh and 87kWh. The first offers a range of 260 miles, while the larger of the two is good for 385 miles on a charge. Buyers can choose from a 168bhp or 217bhp single-motor front-drive powertrain, though all-wheel drive models have been hinted at.

It's hard to believe that the Skoda Kodiaq – the two-time winner of our Large SUV of the Year award – was only introduced in 2016. But that means it's time for a new model that'll land in UK dealerships in early 2024. The second-generation Kodiaq incorporates elements of the brand's new ‘Modern Solid' design language, though even from a distance, it's still easily recognisable as a Kodiaq.

Arriving in 2024 along with the second-generation Kodiaq is the new fourth-generation Skoda Superb that'll be available as either a saloon-like hatchback or more practical estate car. The pair are slightly longer and taller than before, boosting interior space as well as luggage capacity. The styling is a refinement of the previous model's, with the Superb still featuring a long bonnet that flows into an octagonal grille that's flanked by slimmer headlights featuring the latest Matrix LED technology that deliver 40% more light than its predecessor's.

Polestar's CEO, the 4 will start from £55,000 when it goes on sale in spring 2024.

Polestar is taking some big swings with the all-new Polestar 4, not least because the brand expects it to be its biggest-selling model when it finally goes on sale in 2024. The other more controversial element of the electric coupe-SUV is the fact it doesn't have a rear windscreen. Instead, the car relies on cameras and side mirrors to provide the driver with a view of what's behind them. Polestar design director Maximilian Missoni told us "It allows more second-row headroom and a more dramatic rear," though exactly how customers react remains to be seen.

Having enjoyed sales success with the Taycan EV, 2024 will see the German premium brand branch out with its second pure-electric vehicle, the second-generation Macan. The keen-driving family SUV will switch to a new all-electric platform, called PPE, that it's sharing with Audi's Q6 e-tron.

The Land Cruiser has been a staple of the 4x4 world for more than 70 years, with this new upcoming model focusing on "its traditional strengths of quality, durability, and reliability to tackle the toughest conditions". Toyota has also dialled up the retro-charm for the new Land Cruiser as it hopes to steal sales away from the Land Rover Defender and Jeep Wrangler, and worked on improving on-road driving.

The EX30 is Volvo's pint-sized electric SUV that uses the same underpinnings as the Smart #1, and rivals the likes of the Jeep Avenger and Hyundai Kona Electric. The upcoming entry-level ‘Core' version is due to start from roughly £31,000 – about what we'd expect to pay for a small petrol-powered Volvo – with the 51kWh battery in the most basic versions good for a claimed 214-mile range. The Extended Range setup is expected to be more popular, as its 69kWh battery provides enough juice for a claimed range of 298 miles, while its single motor drives the rear wheels and produces 268bhp. There is also a Twin Motor version with 422bhp that'll do 0-62mph in 3.6 seconds, if you crave something more potent, but we prefer the single-motor variant when we tested both back-to-back.

The EX90 is Volvo's new flagship SUV, which is all-electric. It features a minimalist interior with very few physical controls, so Google's voice control is expected to take care of many functions. Behind the steering wheel is a 10.2-inch instrument screen, with a landscape 15.4-inch Google-powered touchscreen in the centre of the dash. The Polestar 4's interior features a wide variety of materials, including a recycled knitted fabric produced with a textile college in Sweden. Full technical details for the Polestar 4 have yet to be revealed, but the Geely SEA platform it sits on can accommodate rear or all-wheel drive setups, a long-range 102kWh battery and power outputs up to 537bhp and 686Nm from the dual-motor versions.

The second-generation Subaru Forester is expected to arrive in 2024 and will feature hybrid power for the first time. The new Forester will be equipped with a 2.0-litre flat-four engine and a dual-clutch automatic gearbox. The interior will feature an 11.6-inch touchscreen and the latest driver assistance systems.

The new Toyota Land Cruiser will be an all-electric SUV focused on quality, durability, and reliability. It will feature a retro-inspired design and will be powered by a dual-motor setup. The Land Cruiser EV is expected to have a range of around 360 miles on a single charge.

The Volkswagen Passat will be available exclusively as an estate car in its new ninth-generation model. It will feature increased interior space and luggage capacity compared to the previous model. The Passat will be available with a range of engine options, including mild-hybrid petrol and regular diesel engines, as well as a plug-in hybrid powertrain.

The Volvo EX30 is a compact electric SUV that will rival the likes of the Jeep Avenger and Hyundai Kona Electric. It will be available in multiple configurations, including a single-motor rear-wheel drive setup and a twin-motor all-wheel drive setup. The EX30 will offer a range of up to 298 miles on a single charge.